Kayak Connection Fresh water June 17 Tourney

I talked to Scott lang, the head ranger at loch Lomond this morning.  Wter temp is 71 on the surface down to about 15-20 feet.  2000 pounds of trout dumped in there last week and they are on the munch!  Despite high surface temps, Scott says a lot of fish are being caught on the surface by anglers and by ospreys.  These are shasta variety trout, clean good looking fish up to around 14"  There are still some holdover fish from last year including eagle lake variety trout in Loch Lomond, so a 20-incher would not be unheard or....

Scott also mentioned an increasing number of 8-10lb bass being caught and released.  he thinks we might be seeing a speicies change at the lake, as the bass population is growing and the blugill and crawdad population is dropping.

Short version=fishing is still good at Loch Lomond.  Troll deep 15-20 feet, shiny lures, powerbait, nightcrawlers, or combinations.  flashers help at Loch Lomond.

I will not be able to make it this year for the first time in 7 or 8 years, as I have to work this weekend, then take off to Kauai on Monday.

Good luck to all, and be nice to Mooch in his fiorst formal Ocean kayak Derby Represenative role!

Allen

Confirmed with the almighty that I can have a hall pass so I'm definately in now... went to Fisherman's Warehouse in SJ today for the first time to pick up another Scotty rod holder... wow, what a great store, with great selection, great prices, and great staff!

My plan is to try some top water action early for bass and see where that gets me, then switch to trolling nightcrawlers behind a set of flashers.

Looking forward to meeting some of the NCKA crew, asking 10,000 questions about your yaks, and if at all possible taking a couple sit-on-tops for a test spin... I still haven't been on one and I'm looking forward to making a decision and not being in my tippy Necky for much longer...

Cheers, Backcountry

No offence, and not to shoot myself in the foot here, but if you are not bass fishing this tournament, you are fishing to lose.

The smallest bass here will crush the biggest trout.

Just sayin.

MolBasser

Backcountry.....just follow the guy with a tie-die T-shirt and make sure you fish right next to him and you'll get into a "contender" 

Good luck to all! See you all at the weigh-in!

Points taken...

1) focus on bass

2) raft up with the tie-die guy   (seem like this strategy is meant to benefit Mooch more than me or the hippy)

 Would love to be there and put on a bassin clinic but I need to head south for F-day.
Actually sounds like a great place to throw the trout flavored swim bait to seduce a big hen.

Just called Kayak Connection - there are only 15 people registered for the Derby! Great odds on winning a new Kayak....Hope we get more people in....remember that the money goes to the Salmon and Trout Restoration project -truly a good cause!

I think I'm in... it will be only my third time kayak fishing, and I've only got a clunky SIK, and no FF, but I'm feeling lucky and this is a great excuse to flex some beginer's luck and get a new SOT yak...

Backcountry

Backcountry, since I will not participate in this derby, you are more than welcome to borrow my Prowler 15 - if you wish. I will bring it with me anyway. Oh...and it's rigged with a FF already 

If I can wake up on time (been having trouble with that since getting back from San Diego) I'll probably be there.  If the number of participants stays low I might have a chance at placing...and even if not it'll be good to fish with my boy Omar.

Angel - remember that there is a kids division too 

Backcountry, since I will not participate in this derby, you are more than welcome to borrow my Prowler 15 - if you wish. I will bring it with me anyway. Oh...and it's rigged with a FF already 

That's a very generous offer and I'll take you up on that if it's not an inconvenience... that yak is on my list to try, as is the P13 and Big Game...

Cheers, Backcountry

Backcountry, since I will not participate in this derby, you are more than welcome to borrow my Prowler 15 - if you wish. I will bring it with me anyway. Oh...and it's rigged with a FF already 

That's a very generous offer and I'll take you up on that if it's not an inconvenience... that yak is on my list to try, as is the P13 and Big Game...

Cheers, Backcountry

How tall are you? If your over 6' 2" it may be too small for you - anyway, I'll have the yak with me no matter what. I'll have a paddle , PFD and a comfortable seat for you to sample as well. See you there!

After the weigh in, anybody up for some friendly sprint races?

I've been busting a daily Suzanne Summers thighmaster routine during commercial breaks of The View, so I'm ready to throw some whitewater with my mirage drive.

for directions, scroll down this link:

http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/wt/llra/llra.html

We may show up too and may enter thr derby. With only 15 folks to, I don't mind giving to a good cause. You bringing the Lumpia Mooch?